WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:05.200 So this morning I want to talk about obviously this passage. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:08.240 This passage is talking about greatness, and that's what I want to talk about. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:09.199 I want to talk about greatness. 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:11.359 I want to talk about true greatness. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:13.439 And the key word in that is true. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:24.399 So if you think about it this way, do you remember when you were at Old Navy and you were wandering on the back sales rack and you see a leather jacket for$15, you couldn't believe it. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.399 A real leather jacket at Old Navy, and that's a miracle. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:30.640 And it was$15, right? 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:32.880 So you had to buy this jacket right away. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:34.000 You couldn't believe it. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:42.240 And so you get home, you're so excited about this leather jacket for$15, and you're in front of your mirror and you're looking at it, and it looks so great, and it fits just right. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:48.960 And you change it into your pajamas, you put the leather jacket back on, and you're wearing it with your pajamas, watching TV because you love this jacket so much. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:01:02.240 And then Friday night comes and you're wearing it with your friends, and you're out at Chili's, and you spill a little Coke on the table, and the elbows hit the Coke, and you don't think much about it, but then a week later that same elbow starts to crack and it starts to peel. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.239 Like your real true leather jacket is just peeling, right? 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.000 And you knew, kind of knew to start, that it did feel a little plasticky. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:13.280 And it turns out it was just all plastic, is what it was, right? 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:15.040 Like it wasn't the true thing. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:20.959 We know the difference between something that's like fake or pseudo or something that's true. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.959 And what this passage is trying to get us to understand is there's a difference between these two things. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:30.239 There's a difference between something like a fake greatness or a pseudo-greatness and true greatness. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:35.359 And the thing we're gonna ask this morning is like, what where is true greatness found? 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:48.480 And reading this morning's text, at least for me, it helped me realize how much, at least for me, I don't know about you, but for me, how much I do just want to be great, like in some way. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:51.519 Like walking around, just like like, does it do you see me? 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:52.079 Do you see me? 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:52.640 Do you know me? 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:53.439 Do you approve of me? 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:54.640 Do you will you pat me on the back? 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:58.400 Like Christie can clean the kitchen three times a day and say nothing. 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:03.120 I clean it once, and I'm trying to get four pats on the back from every person in the house, right? 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:05.680 Like, it's just sort of constant for me. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:08.080 I want this sermon to be great. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:12.080 I went for a walk this morning, trying to connect with the sermon, get emotionally connected. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:19.120 So it's a great sermon, and yet this passage is saying, like, oh, but the sermon's only great if it's in service to you. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:21.840 It's the only way it's great. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:23.840 Right? 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:29.759 Because to be great by what we merit or project, it's never enough. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:42.479 And most of us realize that we're not gonna be great political leaders like Winston Churchill, we're not gonna write songs like the Avett Brothers, we're not gonna start companies like Jeff Bezos. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:43.840 We're just not, right? 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:45.759 Like we're I'm sorry to break the news, right? 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:51.280 Most of us have realized that most of us are not gonna be great like that. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.439 But I think we want to be like a great friend. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:02.960 Or like a great brother or neighbor or sister or mom or great dad. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:05.919 I think that's inside of us. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:11.680 Maybe to be even great with some gifting or calling, I think so. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:20.879 And the good news is like that kind of greatness is available to everyone, but it just isn't in the way that we think it would come. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:25.599 It isn't, isn't the way that the flesh or the ego would drive us? 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:29.599 And that's where this text picks up, this Mark 10 text. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:33.680 James and John, these two, they're known as the sons of thunder. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:37.280 They're so bold and they're brass, so the scripture calls them sons of thunder. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:39.439 And you can see it here in this text, right? 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:45.120 I mean, they come up to Jesus and say, Teacher, what we want you to do for us whatever we ask. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:46.719 Pretty bold ask. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:53.840 And Jesus very graciously responds, you know, what is it you want for me to do? 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:58.960 Grant for one of us to sit at your right hand, you know, the other to sit at your left hand and your glory, right? 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.800 Like, like give us the best position. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:02.800 We want to be seen. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.039 We want glory. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:10.960 And so Jesus begins teaching to them, hey, you don't even know, you don't even know what you're asking for. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:15.520 Like you're asking for glory, you don't even really know what you're asking for. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:23.279 And then he goes into this whole little, like, uh, you know, to be baptized like I'm baptized and take the cup like I'm the take. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:27.920 And what's interesting about that is these two actually did this. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:33.199 Because James was executed by the sword by King Herod. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:36.720 John goes on as an old man, is exiled to the island of Patmos. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:45.199 So both of them, in a way, became great, but it was never by a theology of glory, it was by a theology of the cross. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:50.480 So the other disciples they pick up on this conversation, they hear it. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:58.959 How dare these two try to outmaneuver us to get into a better position with our leader? 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.360 And so in they come also, right? 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:03.279 Because they're not going to be outmaneuvered for this. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:04.480 They want in on this. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:08.720 If there's positions to be held, these other guys want in as well. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:14.800 And so then that's when Jesus drops this bombshell about true greatness in Mark 10, 43 for 45. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:15.759 I'll read it again. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:23.279 But it shall not be among you, this idea of greatness by position and authority, but it shall not be so among you. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:28.480 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:33.759 And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:42.160 For even the Son of Man, that's him, Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:43.759 So how do we shift? 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:53.040 How do we shift from selfish ambition unto greatness to service to other people? 00:05:53.439 --> 00:06:04.240 And this is where Jesus is always trying to get them and get us to see that it's out of what we've already been deemed that we go and live and serve. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:04.720 Right? 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:09.600 It's very clear in John 13 when he says, A new commandment I give to you. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:14.240 Jesus speaking, a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:24.399 That sounds pretty similar to be a servant to people, that you love one another, and then he says, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:30.319 So just as you understand you are loved by Jesus, you go in love. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:44.240 So point number one is this greatness is only found when you die to the selfish desire to be great and live in the belovedness you already have. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:50.879 Greatness is only found when you die to the selfish desire to be great and live in the belovedness you already have. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:52.560 It's quite paradoxical, isn't it? 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:56.079 That's the difference between the theology of glory and the theology of the cross. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.160 Do you remember the Greek mythological character, narcissist? 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:00.560 Right? 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:06.720 So this character is famous for his good looks and he treated other people horribly. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:09.759 He became infatuated with his own reflection. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:20.800 In fact, the story goes that he became so infatuated with himself, didn't care about anybody else, that he sat in front of a pool of water and just admired himself forever and eventually he died there. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:21.279 Right? 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:24.879 And the lesson is that narcissism leads to death. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:26.000 Right? 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:38.079 To be self-absorbed, self-centered, self-bent, where everything in your family, your relationships, your world, your career, your life revolves around you, and you are the center, your God. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.160 It's death. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:41.759 You're creating death. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:46.720 The Mayo Clinic gives these symptoms as narcissistic personality disorder. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:49.360 You can just apply it to yourself as I read. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:08:19.920 It's believing that you're better than others, exaggerating your achievements or talents, expecting constant praise and admiration, failing to recognize other people's emotions and feelings, taking advantage of others, expressing disdain for those you feel are inferior, being jealous of others and believing that others are jealous of you, trouble keeping healthy relationships, setting unrealistic goals, and appearing as tough-minded or unemotional. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:23.040 So, welcome to the disorder. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:28.480 Of course, most of us aren't in this disorder, but all of us go, okay, yeah, that one. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:29.839 Like, I know that one. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:35.120 Or maybe you're going, like, hey, I know that one for that person, but it's better if you just apply it to yourself. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.639 It works better. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:49.200 And listen, you don't really want to be perfectly beautiful, and you don't really want to be like perfectly great. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.960 Underneath that, you're just wondering if you're loved. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:55.840 That's really what you're wondering. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.720 You're just using these other things for it. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:08:59.360 Right? 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:02.080 That's the lie, is these other things. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:03.120 And it's easy. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:14.399 It will be easy to spend your whole life using stuff like beauty and greatness, achievement, these things as it then there'll be, then I'll be enough. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.440 If I can deem greatness in this way. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:23.200 And the lie is, of course, that if you think I'm great, then I'll feel great. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:25.360 And it's a lie. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:31.840 That in some way, finally, we could redeem ourselves from that mistake or that shame or that sin. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.559 We could absolve ourselves or we could feel accepted, finally, in some way. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:45.679 And I wonder what you would have to accomplish to feel clean from that thing you did? 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.559 From that shameful part of your story? 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:56.720 How great would you need to be in this world to be accepted, finally be accepted enough to be at peace? 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:00.960 And you can see how that is enslavement of sin. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:11.120 That self-bentness of that is an enslavement of sin, looking in upon yourself, a refusal to look out upon God's grace to you. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.840 And I wonder a different line of questions. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:20.159 How might I know, how might you know more about how much you are already loved and accepted by my creator? 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.720 What if that was like a starting point question? 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:30.639 What ways do I need to grow quiet as to hear the accepting voice of God in my life? 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:40.720 What does it mean for me to deny myself as to know my true self, which is God's forever beloved? 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:50.000 Point number two is this belovedness creates humility, which empowers service. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:11:04.080 So because you're already loved, that is creates humility because the love is given to you, you didn't earn it, which automatically puts you in a position of humility, which then empowers service to other people. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:10.879 Because you're in connection with God's forever, affirming of you in Jesus, you're already great. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.720 It's off the table. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.080 You already have it. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:18.240 What a freedom that is, that you are relieved of that. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.480 That creates humility, empowers love, empowers service. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.360 Now that is a greatness that can't be taken away. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:34.000 And that is in such contrast to the problem of pseudo-greatness, which is so fleeting. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:40.559 I read an article this week about Michael Jackson, his 1982 thriller album. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.840 Is he anybody have it? 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:42.799 You're playing it? 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.080 I have it. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.360 I'll be on Python. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:45.919 Yes. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:46.799 Thank you. 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:47.440 Thank you. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.120 Yes. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:53.360 It's still the best-selling album in the world. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.000 Now, if you're a music nut, you say, no, no, no, the Eagles album. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:04.000 No, no, the Eagles is best selling in the US, but worldwide, Thriller, 47 million copies of this album. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.559 Still the best-selling album ever. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:13.840 And then the next year, 1983, he films this 13-minute video of Thriller. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.840 I mean, do you remember it? 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:17.200 It was bizarre. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:21.679 I mean, creativity, I mean, it is unbelievable creativity. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.200 It is still the most renowned music video of all time. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:33.759 It was clearly the apex of Michael's career of writing, creativity, singing, dancing. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:35.759 Like this was greatness for that. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:41.840 Like thriller was greatness in terms of writing, singing, dancing, creativity. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:43.759 It doesn't get any better. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:50.720 And in a strange way, in reaction to it, he manically tries to dance like that again. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.399 And create like that again and sing like that again. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:02.320 Or, as we saw throughout the years, numb himself to the reality that he won't be that again. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.720 Now, isn't that interesting? 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:18.000 That you could clearly be the greatest singer and dancer and creator of music in the world, and it's still not enough. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.519 It's still fleeting. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:33.120 And what would it mean for you if greatness was a grace that he put upon you and not merit? 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:38.960 See, you are free in Christ's work and love for you to be great by grace. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.360 And to serve through that grace. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:45.039 That's greatness. 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.639 Point number three. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.519 It's sort of a rephrasing of point number two, I'll admit it. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:52.240 Beloved creates humility, which empowers service. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.360 That was point number two. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:58.639 Beloved creates humility, which empowers service, which is greatness. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:03.759 So I read this definition of biblical love this week. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:15.360 Love is a self-sacrificing, caring commitment, which in obedience to Jesus shows itself in seeking the highest good of the one loved. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:22.320 The costliness of love means that we have to sacrifice our selfishness for the other. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:27.440 And what that means is it means you don't have to Instagram it later. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:28.799 Right? 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.440 When you love the person or serve the person, you have to mention it later. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:33.039 You don't have to slide it in. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:35.840 You don't have to control it, you don't have to muscle it. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.320 It means you can just sacrifice for someone. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.519 You're already loved. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.480 You're already great. 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.799 You know, people don't even have to know about this. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:48.000 Tim Keller, in his book on Mark, it's called King's Cross, he says this. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:15:00.720 If at the very heart of your worldview is a man dying for his enemies, then the way you're going to win influence in society is through service rather than power and control. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.720 You see, most of the time we have it backwards. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.159 We think, uh, I'll become great. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.039 Okay? 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:12.399 I'll um I'll write a song. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:21.440 I'll be uh employee of the month, I'll start a business, I'll be the best mom, and everybody in the neighborhood will know it. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:23.440 I'll become great. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:27.440 And then I'll then finally I'll be loved. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:32.159 And then once I hit that position, now I can serve. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:40.320 Rather than you're already loved, it's given to you. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.720 Not by merit, but by grace. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.759 So you can serve. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.279 And that is great. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:56.399 And that's the truth of this great passage. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:00.240 And then verse 45 completely saves us. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:07.360 Because at this point we go, okay, I get the truth, but uh I'm not great at that. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.759 I'm really, I really am selfish. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:18.799 And Jesus bails us out with himself in verse 45, for even the Son of Man came not to be served. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:29.039 So even your service is not a service to him as to earn something, because he came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:37.279 Point number four, last point is this because we can't be the perfect servant, Jesus was. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:46.639 And it wasn't just to model it for us, it was to rescue us from the fact that we can't be and we're not the perfect servant. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:52.399 And this is really, really good news because what it means is Jesus loves selfish people. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:58.720 Jesus loves selfish, non-religious people, and Jesus loves selfish religious people. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:07.440 He loves his disciples, these selfish guys all asking to be the left and the right, and the others are upset because, oh no, I'm not even gonna get in on that. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:10.240 All these selfish people, and he loves you. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:14.319 He loves you as you're selfish, he loves me as I'm selfish. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:18.000 He becomes the servant, he becomes the servant. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:26.480 God humbles himself unto the cross, taking our sin upon himself, our selfishness, giving to us his righteousness. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:34.640 So as God sees us, God sees us as a perfect servant because we're covered with Jesus' righteousness. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:44.400 So, my brothers and sisters, you are already forgiven, you're already accepted, you're already great in the eyes of God because of Jesus' work and love for you. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.359 Let's pray together. 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:53.599 God, thank you for your good word to us this morning that greatness is by servanthood, and thank you that even while we know it, we fall short. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:57.039 Even while we want to do that, we fall short. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:06.799 We fall short of servanthood when it comes to how we love our family, how we love our children, how we love our friends, co-workers. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.839 How we approach glory. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.920 God is so backward. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:25.200 Help us to trust more in your full sufficiency for us that we are great by your grace to us, and we are free to live in service to other people. 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:27.119 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.920 Amen.